Optics is on the up, it's official. The number of sight tests is growing and if the results of our lens research carried out for Seiko is anything to go by (see News last week) practitioners are ready to put their patients in better and better eyewear.
Notwithstanding the general feeling on the high street, there is an upbeat feel to optics and this was borne out by the latest figures on sight tests performed in the six months to last September (see News). This showed much better pro rata figures for the six months than for the previous complete year which in itself had seen growth of nearly 5 per cent.
Within the optical business there is also anticipation for the arrival of April. The first weekend of that month marks both the start of Optrafair and the Optician Awards, providing optics with its very own Big Saturday. Bookings for the show have been healthy with the event filling up fast and the organiser adding more space. Entries for the Optician Awards have flooded in along with requests for a spot in our Strictly-style dance off.
Most heartening is the move by the whole of the profession to support Optrafair with IT, instrumentation and fashion joining the frame and lens stalwarts. Most satisfying is the return of the contact lens companies whose attendance makes the show complete. All that is left is for the optical profession, business and industry to show its support by coming to Birmingham and tasting the delights on offer.